In briefings, Clinton and Gates failed to overcome skpeticism about U.S. action in Libya. | Photos by AP, Reuters
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Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) told reporters while leaving the Senate briefing that though officials were unclear about Qadhafi’s future, it is his “personal wish that Qadhafi leaves in a box.”

Though Clinton appeared to rule out a request for some sort of retroactive use of force resolution, like the one floated Wednesday by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.), one lawmaker told POLITICO that briefers said there was a possibility the administration would seek supplemental appropriations for the war.

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Ruppersberger said there wasn’t any direct talk of a supplemental but suggested an appropriations request combining money for the war and aid to Japan is likely to be sent from the White House to Capitol Hill. Gates told lawmakers in the briefing that the U.S., through its support of NATO, was projected to commit $40 million per month minimum. But that figure, lawmakers say, is way below what will end up being the actual cost to the government, considering the length of engagement in the region before a full transition to the coalition of nations, and that the U.S. could provide additional funds outside NATO.

“We control the money, so they’re going to have to come to us. They’re probably going to have to come to us for Japan,” Ruppersberger said. “We have about 18 ships, 1,000 people helping Japan right now.”

While there’s deep concern about the cost, scope, duration and objectives of the mission, the frustration expressed by the largest number of lawmakers arises from the president’s decision to commit U.S. forces without seeking congressional approval.

“If they didn’t need congressional authorization here in these circumstances, can you tell me under what circumstances you’d ever need congressional authorization if we’re going into a war? Nobody answered [that] question,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.). “The administration and its lawyers believed they had the authority under the War Powers Act.”

To be sure, the administration has its unabashed supporters in this operation.

“The president has acted appropriately to date,” said Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.). “Don’t underestimate the amount of political opportunism around here on both sides,” he said of the president’s critics.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), a member of the Intelligence Committee and a potential 2012 presidential candidate, said briefers told lawmakers the leaders of the rebellion were formerly generals and colonels in Qadhafi’s military. “They’re loose knit, ... largely localized and factionalized.”

The administration officials declined to say if or when they would make a decision to give weapons to rebels, despite receiving pointed questions from members asking just that.

“I don’t know who these people are,” said Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.).

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), a former Army Ranger, likened arming the rebels to “going into New Orleans after Katrina ... and arming street gangs in certain neighborhoods and wards” to keep the peace.

Without a vote, it’s impossible to tell whether a majority of members would support more intense action in Libya, but it’s clear the administration has done little to assuage its critics. Lawmakers expressed skepticism that they’d even be consulted if the administration were to take such action.

“Now he wants people like me to support him,” said one moderate Democrat. “Quite frankly, I can’t.”

Readers' Comments (79)

Let's take a good look at this article and then page down the Politico website to read about Barry's "anti-secrecy award". What kind of country have we become? The whole POTUS has become a farce. Politico is a joke. The USA had better get serious very quickly. We are a disaster as a nation led by a disaster of a President. Wake up!!

The Obama Administration is conducting illegal and ill concieved forays into the Middle East. They were silent and stated their policy was to butt out of Iran internal conflicts (where citizens were gunned down in the streets) but yet they condone spending 550 million dollars in ten days in Libya where their chosen side is getting NO WHERE real fast. We have shot off more cruise missiles than NATO has altogether in inventory (it is completely and totally ilogical to believe that NATO could defend themselves from an attack by Russia tomorrow if it were necessary based on thier performance so far in Libya).

What we do learn about the Al Queda side that Hillary Clinton and Obama have chosen to side with in this civil war is that the General Population needs to be well armed, and organized for combat on a moment's notice. I suppose that applies to the United States as well. Does our citizens (like Obama's allies in Libya) know how to break into Armories, shoot and conduct ground warfare?

Once the world goes up in smoke (or radiation as the case might be) how will Americans organize themselves? Perhaps the Community Organizer in Chief can tell us that since he seems to be all about organizing hapless Muslim Radicals to build thier "future."

If our "Libyan Opposition" (i.e. the Tea Party or somebody) prepared to use the force of arms against illegal politicians in the United States? That seems to be the new norm. Afterall, has Obama even documented himself as an eligible president of the United States under the Natural Born citizen clause? Nope, he hasn't and doesn't intend to apparently. So is he more legit than Ghadafi? We are supposed to fight against illegit politics you know. That is what we are learning from all of this and if you choose to fight with stolen weapons from the Army, then that seems to be OK until some foreign power comes to your aid with air cover.

American citizens should really wake up and take notice about this new climate of revolution. It is the George Soros/Obama/Clinton doctrine. We should look at the Libyan "rebels" that are glorified on CNN and notice how they have taken their armories, and learned how to shoot down airplanes with stolen weapons and so forth. This is apparently, the message to take to our homes here in America. Afterall, what makes the US any different than any other bankrupt country in the world today? If you ask Obama there is no difference other than the US has a stock pile of Tomahawks to use on Middle East opponents not up to speed on the Obama doctrine. A country with 75,000 residents (and one of the richest countries in the world) Qatar is going to start selling Libyan rebel oil on behalf of the rebels (and Europe of course since that is where almost all of Libyan oil goes). What would rebels in the United States sell and who would sell it for them one has to wonder under the new Obama doctrine?

Great observation Vincent. The America rebels that will one day have to take out their so called illegit leaders under the new Obama Doctrine should not fire their ammo in the air like a bunch of bafoons since Saudi Arabia is not going to ship them any new supplies, I doubt.

Challenged on whether Obama overstepped his constitutional authority in attacking Libya without congressional approval, Clinton told lawmakers that White House lawyers were OK with it and that Obama has no plans to seek an endorsement from Congress, attendees told POLITICO.

I'm sure you meant for just the first 60 days of this kinetic military action, correct Madam Secretary? And it's not "an endorsement" he needs to seek from Congress, it's an authorization.

The Obama Administration is conducting illegal and ill concieved forays into the Middle East. They were silent and stated their policy was to butt out of Iran internal conflicts (where citizens were gunned down in the streets)

Will you cons stop with the poor Iran thing you could careless,Sure the world would really believe us on that one ,just like the WMD story

This administration is definitely making it up as they go along, aren't they? I'm no admirerer of Ghadafi, but I hope he kicks butt on those rebels. He's the leader of a sovereign nation and he's pretty much kept his nose clean after Reagan and Bush slapped him around. At some point, Clinton, Rice, Powers, Gates, and The Dear Leader are going to bite off more then they can chew and we're going to find ourselves with 50,000 dead Americans on our hands in Des Moines or Scranton or somewhere. These Middle East stone-age crazies are playing for keeps. They love blowing each other to bits. We should keep our noses out of other nation's internal affairs. There is no nation in that area of the world that is worth the life of one American soldier. That is as true in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan as it was in Vietnam. What's pathetic is that the mainstream media is still infatuated with the Dear Leader and Congress is acting like those loonies in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Great observation Vincent. The America rebels that will one day have to take out their so called illegit leaders under the new Obama Doctrine should not fire their ammo in the air like a bunch of bafoons since Saudi Arabia is not going to ship them any new supplies, I doubt.

Or wait, our ill concieved intervention in other people's countries in no way reflects the US right? I mean somehow Obama can dictate to the dicatators and bypass Congress in doing his dictates, because he is the president of such a morally superior country. My bad. That's right. The US Dictator in Chief has moral authority over those two bit dictators in North Africa. Sheesh, all these years and CNN still hasn't brainwashed me sufficiently. My bad. I applogize. Of course US citizens have no right to raid the armories against such morally correct leaders in the US. It only applies "over there". Whereever over there happens to be this week in the Obama era. Two weeks ago the Japan Nuclear meltdown was all the news worth reporting, now the meltdown is in full swing but CNN has turned to glorifying a bunch of hoodlums from Eastern Libya.